Earth handling apparatus

ABSTRACT

Apparatus for mounting and moving an earth handling tool over the ground wherein a frame has a wheel at one side thereof and a beam at the opposite side, the beam being pivotally mounted on the frame and having means for carrying the tool. Power means carried by the frame is coupled with the beam for moving the same and thereby the tool into and out of operative position. The apparatus is moved forwardly by a suitable towing vehicle and the beam has means adjacent to the rear end thereof to provide lateral stability for the apparatus as it moves over the ground with the tool in any one of its operative positions.

United States Patent ml Hyman [451 Apr. 16, 1973 EARTH HANDLENGAPPARATUS [76] Inventor: Dennis C. Hyman, 540 Fifth St., Co-

' lusa, Calif. 95932 22 Filed: Dec. 8, 1970 21 Appl. No.: 96,199

172/782, 172/190, 172/611, 37/105 [51] int. Cl. ..A0lb 65/00 [58] Fieldof Search ..172/782, 783, 797,

[ 56] I References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3 ,257,744 6/1966 Buhler..37/105 1,166,251 12/1915 Phipps..... 146,562 1/1874 Airey 2,195,5164/1940 Ferguson..... 3,445,944 5/1969 Speno 1 72/459 X 3,049,822 8/ 1962McMullen 1 72/782 X 3,539,014 11/1970 Jonsson ..172/666 X 2,640,403 6/1953 Halverson ..l72/61 1 X Primary Examiner-Robert E. Pulfrey AssistantExaminer- Stephen C. Pellegrino AttorneyTownsend and Townsend [57] ABSCTApparatus for mounting and moving an earth handling tool over the groundwherein a frame has a wheel at one side thereof and a beam at theopposite side, the beam being pivotally mounted on the frame and havingmeans for carrying the tool. Power means carried by the frame is coupledwith the beam for moving the same and thereby the tool into and out ofoperative position. The apparatus is moved forwardly by a suitabletowing vehicle and the beam has means adjacent to the rear end thereofto provide lateral stability for the apparatus as it moves over theground with the tool in any one of its operative positions.

16 Claims, 11 Drawing Figures PATENTEDAFRKOISYS SHEET 2 OF 2 I 4 I02 10aI DENNIS C.HYMAN INVENTOR.

7ownsend lownsend for moving an earth handling tool over the ground.

While the present invention may be suitable for a number of differentuses, it is especially suitable for use in forming mounds or checkswhich define the boundaries of a paddy for growing rice or othersuch'crop. The checks for such a paddy have inclined sides and are of adesired height so that the paddy, when properly formed, can be filled toa desired level with water. The checks thus serve as water barriers,although one or two of the checks of a paddy can be provided withopenings therethrough to allow circulation of water through the paddy,the source of the water being an adjacent paddy.

Generally, a check forms the barrier for two adjacent sides of the checkuntil the desired dimensions of the check are met. The apparatus can beoperated by a single individual, namely, the one operating the towingvehicle. The apparatus can be readily moved from one field to anotherand can be adapted for other uses by replacing the earth cutting bladewith tools adapted to perform the other functions.

The primary object of this invention, is therefore, to provide animproved earth handling apparatus suitable for mounting and moving anearth handling tool over the ground in an operative position and isespecially adapted for use with a blade for forming or building upchecks of the type used to provide the boundaries for rice paddies orthe like.

Another object of this invention is to provide ap- V paratus of theaforesaid character wherein a wheeled paddies. Thus, the opposing sidesof such a check slopes downwardly from the crest thereof to the bottomsurfaces of respective paddies. in forming a check, it is important thatthe check be of a sufficient height to permit the paddy to be filledwith water to a predetermined depth. Also, after harvesting ofthe cropin the paddy, it is oftentimes necessary to build up an existing checkby adding more soil to it to increase its height and width or toeliminate the plant growth on the side of a check.

Checks are generally used over andover again year after year. Over theyears, the soil in a check becomes hard as a rock and large diggingforces are required to dig into the earth at the base of a check togenerate enough soil to add to the existing check to, build the same tothe desired dimension.

The present invention provides apparatus for mounting an earth handlingtool, such as an elongated, transversely arcuate blade wherein the bladecan operate when moving through the earth to generate the soil necessaryto form a new check or to build up an existing check. Moreover, theapparatus is constructed so that the tool will be sufficiently supportedto dig into rock-hard earth to generate the soil necessary to build upan existing check. The apparatus operates to build up the check from oneside at a time; thus, after the v blade has made one pass along one sideof a check, it can move along the opposite side of the check so as tocontinue to build up the same.

In the past, a pair of earth-forming tools on opposite sides of thecheck have been used to form or to build up a check when the tools arepulled forwardly by towing vehicles, such as a bulldozer or tractor,moving on the crest of the check itself. Other arrangements of this typeinclude the use of two bulldozers on the opposite sides of the checkwith each bulldozer pulling an earthforming tool. Such operationsrequire more than one person to complete a check and also require anincreased investment in equipment; thus, increasing the cost of formingor building up a check.

The apparatus of the present invention overcomes this problem byoperating quickly, easily and efficiently only on one side of a checkwithout having to move the towing vehicle over the crest of the checkwhich might otherwise damage the check itself or inhibit the formationof the same to a desired height. Thus, the apparatus can operate to formor build up one side of a check at a time so that .the step of checkforming can be accomplished by making several passesalong opposingisting check, yet the apparatus will provide the support for the toolsufficient to generate the forces necessary to generate the soil to formor build up the check.

A further object of this invention is to provide apparatus of theaforesaid character wherein a beam is provided to pivotally connect thetool to the frame with the beam having means thereon for providinglateral stability for the apparatus to thereby keep the blade in anoperative position for generating soil to form or build up a check ofthe type described as the apparatus is moved forwardly along the lengthof each check to be formed or to be built up.

Other objects of this invention will become apparent as the followingspecification progresses, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawings for an illustration of a preferred embodiment of the apparatus.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of the earth handling apparatus ofthis invention, showing an earth handling blade in two differentoperative positions;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the apparatus;

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the apparatus;

FIG. 4 is a rear elevational view of the apparatus with the blade in aninoperative position;

FIG. 5 is a rear elevational view of the apparatus, showing the blade inan operative position for forming a check for a paddy;

paratus and the longitudinally extending beam which carries the blade;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged, fragmentary, perspective view of the pivotattachment between the blade and a power device on the apparatus frame;

FIG. 8 is a view similar to FIGS. 6 and '7 but showing the pivotattachment between the beam and the blade;

FIG. 9 is a view similar to FIGS. 6, 7 and b but showing'the attachmentof a blade-supporting brace to the beam;

FIG. It] is an enlarged, fragmentary, perspective view of the front ofthe beam showing the way a wheel is attached thereto for supporting thebeam when the blade is in the operative position of FIG. 4; and

FIG. 11 is a rear view only of the beam, the blade and the vane on therear end of the beam for providing lateral stability therefor toillustrate the relative positions of these three elements when the bladeis in an operative position.

The apparatus of this invention is denoted by the numeral 10 andincludes a frame 12 having a relatively large, ground-engaging wheel 14journaled thereon and an elongated I-beam 16 extending longitudinallythereof with reference to the direction of movement of the frame overthe ground. The beam is pivotally mounted on the frame and carries anearth handling tool, such as an earth cutting blade 18, so that, whenthe beam pivots relative to the frame, the blade can be moved into andout of an operative position with respect to the ground. An actuatablepower device 20 carried by the frame is used to pivot the beam andthereby the blade into and out of operative positions with respect tothe frame.

While the earth handling tool can be of anysuitable configuration, itwill be described as a blade whereby apparatus 10 can be used to form anelongated barrier or check defining a side boundary of a paddy of thetype used for growing rice or other similar crop. Such a check isgenerally of the cross section shown in FIG. and is denoted by thenumeral 22. The check is conical to present a pair of sloping sides 24and 26, FIG. 5 showing apparatus in operation with blade 18 in anoperative position to form or build up side 24. In such a position, theblade extends both rearwardly and upwardly from the front end of beam16. As the blade moves forwardly with the beam along side 24 of thecheck, soil is dug up by the lower, forward end of the blade and thesoil is distributed along the length of the blade and then onto side24to build up the same until check 22 is of the proper height. The angleof the blade with reference to the forward path of movement of apparatus10 will determine the slope of side 24.

Frame 12 includes a pair of side members 28 and 30 (FIG. 3), a frontmember 32 (FIG. 1), and a rear member 34 (FIGS. 3 and 4), members 28,30, 32 and 34 being connected to each other to form a unitary,rectangular construction for the frame. Wheel 14 extends through frame12 and is secured by bearings 36 and 38 to side members 28 and 30,respectively, whereby the frame can move with the wheel as the latterrolls over the ground. Front and rear members 32 and 34 have first endswhich terminate at side member 28 but the opposite ends of members 32and 34 are spaced laterally from side member 30, as shown in FIG. 3.Braces 40 (FIG. 3) interconnect the outer ends of members 32 and 34 withthe central part of member 30.

Wheel 14 may be of any construction but, for purposes of illustration,it is hollow and is formed by a pair of spaced sides 42, only one ofwhich is shown in FIG. 2, and an annular band 44 having a predeterminedwidth. Since the wheel is hollow, it can be filled with water or othersuitable liquid to increase its weight. One of the sides 42 has a holetherethrough near the outer periphery of the wheel by means of which thewheel can be filled or drained. A plug 46 is removably coupled to theone side 42 for closing the hole.

Beam 16 is pivotally secured at two locations to frame 12. As shown inFIGS. 3 and 6, the beam has a pair of spaced projections 48 and 50 whichare secured by pins 52 and 54 to respective, downwardly projectingextensions 56 and 58 rigid to the outer ends of front and rear members32 and 34, respectively. Projections 48 and 50 are rigid to one outer,flat end face 60 of beam 16 as shown in FIG. 6. The axes of pins 52 and54 are coincident with each other so as to provide a common, generallyhorizontal axis of pivotal movement for beam 16 relative to frame 12.

Blade 18 is transversely arcuate as shown in FIGS. 1, 4 and 7. It has alateral projection 62 (FIGS. 3 and 8) on the rear surface 64 thereofnear its forward end 66. This projection is received between a pair ofears 68 rigid to face 60 of beam 16, and a pin 70 pivotallyinterconnects projection 62 and cars 68. The axis of pin 70 issubstantially perpendicular to but in intersecting relationship with thecommon axis of pins 52 and 54.

By virtue of the pivotal connection of the blade with the beam, theblade can move toward and away from the beam about pin 70. Severaloperative positions of the blade relative to the beam are shown in FIG.3. To determine such operative position, a brace 72 extends between thecentral part of the beam and the central part of the blade as shown inFIGS. 3 and 4. Brace 72 has a pair of arms 74 (FIG. 4) which convergetoward a clevis 76 attached by a pin 78 (FIG. 9) to an elongated, rigidplate 80 secured to end face 60 of beam 16 at any one of a number ofoperative locations along the beam. Plate 80 has a number ofpin-receiving holes 82, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 9, for removablyreceiving pin 78 to thereby permit adjustment of the position of clevis76 along the length of beam 16.

The opposite ends of anns 74 are pivotally secured to ears 75 on therear surface 64 of blade 18 by pins 77 in the manner shown in FIG. 4.Brace 72 determines the acute angle between blade 18 and beam 16. Toincrease the angle between these two elements, clevis 76 is moved to aforward location on plate 80. To decrease this angle, clevis 76 is movedto a rearward location on plate 80. While brace 72 is shown as being ofa rigid construction, the same is equivalent to a fluid-actuated powerdevice, such as a piston and cylinder assembly which is adjustable inlength and can be pivotally secured at fixed locations on both blade 18and beam 16.

Power device 20 is fluid actuated and includes a cylinder 84 pivotallysecured at one end thereof to a post 86 extending upwardly from one endof front member 32 as shown in FIG. 1. A brace 88 is rigid to the upperend of post 86 and to the opposite end of front member 32. Similarly, abrace 90 extends from the upper end of post 86 to the corresponding rearend of rear member 34 to support post 86.

A piston rod 92 is shiftably coupled with cylinder 84 and is pivotallysecured to blade 18 in the manner shown in FIG. 7. To this end, theblade has a projection 94 on its rear surface 64 near one longitudinaledge 96 of the blade. Projection 92 pivotally carries a pin 98 which iscoupled with a clevis 100 on the outer end of rod 92. Fluid lines 102and 104 coupled with respective ends of cylinder 84 extend forwardly offrame 12, as shown in FIG. 3, for connection with a source of fluidunder pressure, such source preferably being carried by the towingvehicle which is used to pull apparatus 10 forwardly over the ground.Lines 102 and 104 are supported by springs 106 and 108 attached to asecond upright post 110 extending upwardly from the front end of sidemember 30.

A vane 112 is secured to the opposite outer, flat end face 114 of beam16 at the rear end of the beam as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. Vane 112 has afirst section 116 which is parallel with face 114 and a second section118 (FIGS. 4 and 11) which is at an angle with respect to section 116. Alongitudinally extending rib 1211 is carried by one face 122 of section118(FIG. 11). The front edge 124 of vane 112 is inclined upwardly andrearwardly with respect to the beam face 114 as shown in FIG. 2.

Beam 16 has a pair of front and rear wheels 126 and 128 journaledthereon about respective stub shafts 130 and 132 rigidly secured to oneside of beam 16 in any suitable manner, such as in the manner shown inFIG. 18. The wheels are disposed to support one side of apparatus as itmoves over the ground with blade 18 in its up or inoperative positionand when the other side of the apparatus is supported by wheel 14 in themanner shown in FIG. 4.

In use, beam 16 is secured at its front end to a towing vehicle such asa bulldozer or a tractor. To this end, the front end of the beam has atowing loop 134 to which a cable or chain can be connected. Initially,blade 18 will be in the up or inoperative position shown in FIG. 4 andthe angle of the blade relative to the beam will have been determined byselectively securing brace 72 toplate 80 at any one of the operativelocations along the same. In the inoperative position of blade 18, beam16 will be disposed so that wheels 126 and 128 engage the ground tosupport the side of the apparatus having blade 18. Since the oppositeside of the apparatus is always supported by wheel 14, the apparatus canthen be pulled over the ground to a job site. When the blade is in itsinoperative position, wheel 126 keeps the front end of the beam abovethe ground and wheel 128 keeps vane 112 above the ground; thus, the beammoves unimpeded over the ground.

At the job site, power device 20 is actuated to cause blade 18 to pivotfrom its inoperative position of FIG. 4

to an operative position. FIG. 1 shows the blade in twodifferentoperative positions. In the dashed line position, the blade extendsupwardly and rearwardly from the front end of beam 16 and makes an acuteangle with the ground. In such position, it is disposed to form or tobuild up a check. This is accomplished when the blade is moved forwardlybecause the lower extremity 136 of the blade will dig into the earth togenerate loose soil which will flow upwardly along the concave frontsurface 137 of the blade, along the length of the blade, and finallyover the top edge of the blade and off the outer end thereof. In thisway, the height of the check will be increased. As the blade makesseveral passes along a particular side of the check, the height of thecheck will be progressively increased.

The blade can be placed in other angled positions to increase ordecrease the degree by which the check is formed. The steeper the angleof the blade, i.e.-, the closer the blade is to the vertical angle, thegreater will be the digging capability of the blade and thereby thegreater amount of loose soil will be generated by lower extremity 136 ofthe blade. The change in angularity of As apparatus 10 moves over theground with the blade in an operative position as shown in FIGS. 1 and5, vane 1 12 cuts through the earth in the manner shown in FIG. 11 toprovide lateral stability for the apparatus. Without the vane, theforces exerted on the blade by the soil would cause the apparatus torotate about a vertical axis near the front end of the beam. If thiswere to occur, the blade would merely follow the movement of the beamand would be completely ineffective for using in forming a check orbuilding up an existing check.

The vane because of its location on the beam inhibits any tendency forthe beam to pivot about such vertical axis since the vane is in theground when the blade is in the operative position of FIGS. 1 and 5. Thevane automatically moves into and stays partially in the ground (FIG.11) as the apparatus moves forwardly and after the power device hasrotated the blade into the inclined operative position. The angularityof sections 116 and 118 provides for the holding of the vane againstmovement out of the ground when the blade is in an operative position.This is because lower section 118 of the vane is at an angle withrespect to the applied force on the vane which tends to keep the vane inthe ground and to prevent it from emerging'from the ground. Rib 120 alsocontributes to holding the vane in the ground since it provides ashoulder which would engage the soil below ground level and therebyprevent upward movement of the vane as the'apparatus moves forwardly andwhen blade 18 is in an operative position.

After the length of the desired check has been traversed, the operatormay wish to raise the blade so as to make a turn and thereby be properlyaligned for making a pass along the opposite side of the check. To thisend, power device 20 is actuated to draw the blade in a directionrelative to and toward wheel 14. However, in some cases, the blade mayhave sufficiently penetrated the earth to prevent this raising of theblade immediately. Thus, when the power device is actuated, what, infact, occurs is that the blade remains in the earth as wheel 14 islifted off the ground. However, a point willbe reached where the weightof the wheel and its liquid contents will be sufficient to dislodge theblade from the earth, causing the wheel to again settle onto the groundand carry the blade with it so as to move the blade upwardly from theearth. Then device 20 can be further actuated to raise the blade to theinoperative position of FIG. 4. This will generally be done as theapparatus moves forwardly so that vane 1 12 can be moved cleanly out ofthe ground rather than be forced upwardly through the soil about thevane.

Apparatus 10 can be used in lieu of blade 18 by attaching another toolto the beam. For instance, a disk assembly could be used as the earthhandling tool wherein apparatus 10 can be moved near the base of a treeto loosen the soil around the tree and thereby eliminate the difficultyof maneuvering conventional disks around a tree for this same purpose.Also, blade 18 can be used in the full line position of FIG. 1 to levelthe bottom of a paddy or other area.

I claim:

1. Earth handling apparatus comprising: a frame having a pair of opposedsides and a ground engaging wheel at one side thereof for mounting theframe for movement over the ground, said wheel being the sole support ofsaid one side of the frame; a beam shiftably mounted on the frameadjacent to the opposite side thereof and extending longitudinallythereof with reference to the path of travel of the frame, said beamhaving means for mounting an earth handling tool thereon and beingmovable into and out of any one of a number of operative positionsrelative to the frame; means carried by the frame for shifting the beamrelative thereto, whereby the beam can be moved into and out of anoperative position relative to the frame; and means on the beam forproviding laterial stability therefor when the beam is in an operativeposition and moves over the ground with the frame.

2. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said means for providinglateral stability comprises a vane disposed for movement through theground when the beam is in an operative position relative to the frame.

3. Apparatus as set forth in claim 2, wherein the vane has a pair ofrelatively angularly disposed sections, one of the sections beingrigidly secured to the beam and extending outwardly therefrom, the othersection being integral with said one section.

4. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said beam is pivotallymounted on said frame, said shifting means including a power deviceadapted to be pivotally coupled with said tool for pivoting the same andthereby the beam into and out of an operative position.

5. Earth handling apparatus comprising: a frame having a pair of opposedsides; a single ground-engaging wheel journaled on the frame adjacent toone side thereof and being the sole support of said one side, wherebythe frame can move over the ground and be angled relative thereto; abeam pivotally mounted on the frame adjacent to the opposite sidethereof and extending longitudinally of the direction of movementthereof; an earth handling tool coupled to the beam and movabletherewith relative to the frame; means carried by the frame and coupledwith the beam for pivoting the same relative to the frame, whereby thebeam and the tool can be moved into and out of respective operativepositions with respect to the frame; and means carried by the beam forholding the same against movement laterally of the direction of travelof the frame as the frame moves in said direction and when the tool andthe beam are in respective operative positions.

6. Apparatus as set forth in claim 5, wherein said tool is pivotallymounted on the beam adjacent to the forward end thereof and divergingtherefrom with reference to the direction of movement of the frame.

7. Apparatus as set forth in claim 5, wherein said pivoting meansincludes a fluid-actuated power device pivotally mounted at one endthereof to said frame and at the opposite end thereof to the tool.

8. Apparatus as set forth in claim 5, wherein said holding meansincludes a vane secured to the beam adjacent to the rear end thereof.

9. Earth handling apparatus comprising: a frame having a pair of opposedsides; a wheel rotatably mounted on one side of the frame for moving thesame over the tive to the frame, said beam having means for supportingthe other side of the frame when the beam is in an inoperative positionrelative to the frame; means carried by the frame for shifting the beamrelative thereto, whereby the beam can be moved into and out of anoperative position relative to the frame; and means on the beam forproviding lateral stability therefore when the beam is in an operativeposition and moves over the ground with the frame.

10. Apparatus as set forth in claim 9, wherein said supporting meanscomprises a pair of wheels joumaled on the beam adjacent to respectiveends thereof.

11. Earth handling apparatus comprising: a frame having means thereonfor mounting the same for movement over the ground; a beam shiftablymounted on the frame and extending longitudinally thereof with referenceto the path of travel of the frame, said beam having means for mountingan earth handling tool thereon and being movable into and out of any oneof a number of operative positions relative to the frame; means carriedby the frame for shifting the beam relative thereto, whereby the beamcan be moved into and out of an operative position relative to theframe; and a vane on the beam for providing lateral stability thereforand movable through the ground when the beam is in an operative positionand moves over the ground with the frame, said vane having a pair ofrelatively angularly disposed sections, one of the sections beingrigidly secured to the beam and extending outwardly therefrom, the othersection being integral with said one section and having a rib thereonwith the rib extending longitudinally of the beam.

12. Earth handling apparatus comprising: a frame; a hollow wheel on theframe for mounting the same for movement over the ground, said wheelhaving means permitting the same to be filled with a liquid and providedwith an annular, ground-engaging band having a predetermined width; abeam shiftably mounted on the frame and extending longitudinally thereofwith reference to the path of travel of the frame, said beam havingmeans for mounting an earth handling tool thereon and being movable intoand out of any one of a number of operative positions relative to theframe; means carried by the frame for shifting the beam relativethereto, whereby the beam can be moved into and out of an operativeposition relative to the frame; and means on the beam for providinglateral stability therefore when the beam is in an operative positionand moves over the ground with the frame.

13. Earth handling apparatus comprising: a frame having a pair ofopposed sides; ground-engaging wheel joumaled on the frame adjacent toone side thereof, whereby the frame can move over the ground; a beampivotally mounted on the frame adjacent to the opposite side thereof andextending longitudinally of the direction of movement thereof; an earthhandling tool coupled to the beam adjacent to the forward end thereofwith reference to the direction of movement of the frame, said toolbeing movable therewith relative to the frame; an adjustable braceinterconnecting the tool and the beam rearwardly of the forward end ofthe latter; means carried by the frame and coupled with the beam forpivoting the same relative to the frame, whereby the beam and the toolcan be moved into and out of respective operative positions with respectto the frame; and means carried by the beam for holding the same againstmovement laterally of the direction of travel of the frame as the framemoves in said direction and when the tool and the beam are in respectiveoperative positions.

14. Earth handling apparatus comprising: a frame having a pair ofopposed sides; a ground-engaging wheel journaled on the frame adjacentto one side thereof, whereby the frame can move over the ground; a beampivotally mounted on the frame adjacent to the opposite side thereof andextending longitudinally of the direction of movement thereof; an earthhandling blade coupled to the beam and movable therewith relative to theframe, said blade having a concave front surface and a front endterminating adjacent to the front end of the-beam, said blade beingconvergent toward said beam as the front end of the blade is approached,said blade being above said beam when the latter and the blade are inrespective inoperative positions; means carried by the frame and coupledwith the beam for pivoting the same relative to the frame, whereby thebeam and the tool can be moved into and out of respective operativepositions with respect tothe frame; and

means carried by the beam for holding the same against movementlaterally of the direction of travel of the frame as the frame moves insaid direction and when the tool and the beam are in respectiveoperative positions.

15. Earth handling apparatus comprising: a frame having a pair ofopposed sides; a ground-engaging wheel journaled on the frame adjacentto one side thereof, whereby the frame can move over the ground; a beampivotally mounted on the frame adjacent to the opposite side thereof andextending longitudinally of the direction of movement thereof; an earthhandling tool coupled to the beam and movable therewith relative to theframe; means carried by the frame and coupled with the beam for pivotingthe same relative to the frame, whereby the beam and the tool can bemoved into and out of respective operative positions with respect to theframe; means at each end of the beam, respectively, for supporting thesame for movement over the ground when the beam is in an inoperativeposition; and means carried by the beam for holding the same againstmovement laterally of the direction of travel of the frame as the framemoves in said direction and when the tool and the beam are in respectiveoperative positions.

16. Apparatus as set forth in claim 15, wherein said supporting meansincludes a pair of wheels, said holding means including a vane attachedto the beam near the rear end thereof, the rear wheel being operable tomaintain the vane out of engagement with the ground when the beam is inan inoperative position.

1. Earth handling apparatus comprising: a frame having a pair of opposedsides and a ground engaging wheel at one side thereof for mounting theframe for movement over the ground, said wheel being the sole support ofsaid one side of the frame; a beam shiftably mounted on the frameadjacent to the opposite side thereof and extending longitudinallythereof with reference to the path of travel of the frame, said beamhaving means for mounting an earth handling tool thereon and beingmovable into and out of any one of a number of operative positionsrelative to the frame; means carried by the frame for shifting the beamrelative thereto, whereby the beam can be moved into and out of anoperative position relative to the frame; and means on the beam forproviding laterial stability therefor when the beam is in an operativeposition and moves over the ground with the frame.
 2. Apparatus as setforth in claim 1, wherein said means for providing lateral stabilitycomprises a vane disposed for movement through the ground when the beamis in an operative position relative to the frame.
 3. Apparatus as setforth in claim 2, wherein the vane has a pair of relatively angularlydisposed sections, one of the sections being rigidly secured to the beamand extending outwardly therefrom, the other section being integral withsaid one section.
 4. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein saidbeam is pivotally mounted on said frame, said shifting means including apower device adapted to be pivotally coupled with said tool for pivotingthe same and thereby the beam into and out of an operative position. 5.Earth handling apparatus comprising: a frame having a pair of opposedsides; a single ground-engaging wheel journaled on the frame adjacent toone side thereof and being the sole support of said one side, wherebythe frame can move over the ground and be angled relative thereto; abeam pivotally mounted on the frame adjacent to the opposite sidethereof and extending longitudinally of the direction of movementthereof; an earth handling tool coupled to the beam and movabletherewith relative to the frame; means carried by the frame and coupledwith the beam for pivoting the same relative to the frame, whereby thebeam and the tool can be moved into and out of respective operativepositions with respect to the frame; and means carried by the beam forholding the same against movement laterally of the direction of travelof the frame as the frame moves in said direction and when tHe tool andthe beam are in respective operative positions.
 6. Apparatus as setforth in claim 5, wherein said tool is pivotally mounted on the beamadjacent to the forward end thereof and diverging therefrom withreference to the direction of movement of the frame.
 7. Apparatus as setforth in claim 5, wherein said pivoting means includes a fluid-actuatedpower device pivotally mounted at one end thereof to said frame and atthe opposite end thereof to the tool.
 8. Apparatus as set forth in claim5, wherein said holding means includes a vane secured to the beamadjacent to the rear end thereof.
 9. Earth handling apparatuscomprising: a frame having a pair of opposed sides; a wheel rotatablymounted on one side of the frame for moving the same over the ground; abeam shiftably mounted on the frame adjacent to the other side thereofand extending longitudinally thereof with reference to the path oftravel of the frame, said beam having means for mounting an earthhandling tool thereon and being movable into and out of any one of anumber of operative positions relative to the frame, said beam havingmeans for supporting the other side of the frame when the beam is in aninoperative position relative to the frame; means carried by the framefor shifting the beam relative thereto, whereby the beam can be movedinto and out of an operative position relative to the frame; and meanson the beam for providing lateral stability therefore when the beam isin an operative position and moves over the ground with the frame. 10.Apparatus as set forth in claim 9, wherein said supporting meanscomprises a pair of wheels journaled on the beam adjacent to respectiveends thereof.
 11. Earth handling apparatus comprising: a frame havingmeans thereon for mounting the same for movement over the ground; a beamshiftably mounted on the frame and extending longitudinally thereof withreference to the path of travel of the frame, said beam having means formounting an earth handling tool thereon and being movable into and outof any one of a number of operative positions relative to the frame;means carried by the frame for shifting the beam relative thereto,whereby the beam can be moved into and out of an operative positionrelative to the frame; and a vane on the beam for providing lateralstability therefor and movable through the ground when the beam is in anoperative position and moves over the ground with the frame, said vanehaving a pair of relatively angularly disposed sections, one of thesections being rigidly secured to the beam and extending outwardlytherefrom, the other section being integral with said one section andhaving a rib thereon with the rib extending longitudinally of the beam.12. Earth handling apparatus comprising: a frame; a hollow wheel on theframe for mounting the same for movement over the ground, said wheelhaving means permitting the same to be filled with a liquid and providedwith an annular, ground-engaging band having a predetermined width; abeam shiftably mounted on the frame and extending longitudinally thereofwith reference to the path of travel of the frame, said beam havingmeans for mounting an earth handling tool thereon and being movable intoand out of any one of a number of operative positions relative to theframe; means carried by the frame for shifting the beam relativethereto, whereby the beam can be moved into and out of an operativeposition relative to the frame; and means on the beam for providinglateral stability therefore when the beam is in an operative positionand moves over the ground with the frame.
 13. Earth handling apparatuscomprising: a frame having a pair of opposed sides; ground-engagingwheel journaled on the frame adjacent to one side thereof, whereby theframe can move over the ground; a beam pivotally mounted on the frameadjacent to the opposite side thereof and extending longitudinally ofthe direction of movement thereof; an earth handling tool coupled to thebeam adjacent to the forward enD thereof with reference to the directionof movement of the frame, said tool being movable therewith relative tothe frame; an adjustable brace interconnecting the tool and the beamrearwardly of the forward end of the latter; means carried by the frameand coupled with the beam for pivoting the same relative to the frame,whereby the beam and the tool can be moved into and out of respectiveoperative positions with respect to the frame; and means carried by thebeam for holding the same against movement laterally of the direction oftravel of the frame as the frame moves in said direction and when thetool and the beam are in respective operative positions.
 14. Earthhandling apparatus comprising: a frame having a pair of opposed sides; aground-engaging wheel journaled on the frame adjacent to one sidethereof, whereby the frame can move over the ground; a beam pivotallymounted on the frame adjacent to the opposite side thereof and extendinglongitudinally of the direction of movement thereof; an earth handlingblade coupled to the beam and movable therewith relative to the frame,said blade having a concave front surface and a front end terminatingadjacent to the front end of the beam, said blade being convergenttoward said beam as the front end of the blade is approached, said bladebeing above said beam when the latter and the blade are in respectiveinoperative positions; means carried by the frame and coupled with thebeam for pivoting the same relative to the frame, whereby the beam andthe tool can be moved into and out of respective operative positionswith respect to the frame; and means carried by the beam for holding thesame against movement laterally of the direction of travel of the frameas the frame moves in said direction and when the tool and the beam arein respective operative positions.
 15. Earth handling apparatuscomprising: a frame having a pair of opposed sides; a ground-engagingwheel journaled on the frame adjacent to one side thereof, whereby theframe can move over the ground; a beam pivotally mounted on the frameadjacent to the opposite side thereof and extending longitudinally ofthe direction of movement thereof; an earth handling tool coupled to thebeam and movable therewith relative to the frame; means carried by theframe and coupled with the beam for pivoting the same relative to theframe, whereby the beam and the tool can be moved into and out ofrespective operative positions with respect to the frame; means at eachend of the beam, respectively, for supporting the same for movement overthe ground when the beam is in an inoperative position; and meanscarried by the beam for holding the same against movement laterally ofthe direction of travel of the frame as the frame moves in saiddirection and when the tool and the beam are in respective operativepositions.
 16. Apparatus as set forth in claim 15, wherein saidsupporting means includes a pair of wheels, said holding means includinga vane attached to the beam near the rear end thereof, the rear wheelbeing operable to maintain the vane out of engagement with the groundwhen the beam is in an inoperative position.